Improvement in watches



H.- GANNEY.

Watch.

0 65,371. Patented June 4, 1867.

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HENRY GANNEY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

Letters Patent No. 65,371, dated June 4, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATCHES.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, HEN RY GANNEY, of Louisville, Jefferson county, State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Watches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had 'to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification.

The present invention consists, first, in securing the outer end of the balance-spring of a watch movement to a stud, of such a construction that while it serves the ordinary purpose of such studs, that is, holding the outer end of the spring, it also enables the movement of the watch to be regulated and the spring to adjust itself to the variations in the temperature, as will be hereinafter fully described; second, in lieu of securing the outer end of the main-spring to the barrel of the watch movement, as has heretofore been the case, I attach it to a spring placed in a barrel, but in a reverse or opposite direction to the main-spring, the principal objects being to prevent the main-spring from becoming broken, if the watch is -over-wound, and also in case the main-spring should break or snap from a change-of temperature or other cause, to prevent injury to any of the pinions or wheels of the watch movement. In accompanying plate of drawings my improvements in watches are illustrated- Figure 1 being a view of the balance-spring with my improved mode of securing its outer end.

Figure 2, an edge view of the balance-spring.

Figure 3, a View of the interior of the main-spring barrel of the watch movement, showing the main-spring secured therein according to my invention.

Figures 4 and 5, detail views to be hereinafter referred to.

Figures 6 and 7, views of a watch-key, the construction of which will be hereinafter described.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A, in the drawings, represents the balance-spring of a watch movement. B, thestud for holding the outer end of the balance-spring, provided with two parallel spring-arms C C through the outer ends of each of which the end of the spring A is passed, being fastened to the arm 0 D, a set-screw, passing through one arm 0, coming to a bearing against the other arm 0 by the screwing in or out of which set-screw the two arms C C are spread apart or allowed to come or spring closer together, thus enabling the balance-spring to be properly regulated or adjusted, as is obvious without further explanation; this regulating of the balance-spring being accomplished without disturbing or interfering-with the movement or beat of the balance-whecl-a quite important desideratum. The arms 0 C of the stud B are made of brass and steel, with the brass sides facing each other, as shown in the drawings, fig. 1, so that by the unequal expansion of the two metals the effect of the temperature upon the balance-spring is neutralized, as in the ordinary construction of the compensating balance-wheel used for watches; the same principle of operation being involved, that is, the balance-spring being tightened and thus strengthened in direct proportion as it expands and is weakened by the action of heat, and the reverse when the spring is contracted by the action of cold and thus strengthened. H is the barrel of the watch in which the main-spring I is coiled in the ordinary manner, with the inner end secured to the centre spindle J, but its outer end K interlocked or engaged with the end L of another spring M, passing around the interior of the barrel K, but in the reverse direction to that in which the main-spring is coiled; this supplementary spring M being shown by a heavy red line in fig. 3, and a portion of it in enlarged side view in fig. 4:, and the end of main-springwith which it is engaged similarly enlarged in fig. 5. By securing the outer end of the main-spring to a supplementary spring extending around the interior of the main-spring barrel in a reverse direction to that of the main-spring, in lieu of directly to the barrcl,.as heretofore, it is plainly evident that the liability of breaking the main-spring by over-winding the watch, is entirely obviated, and incase the main-spring should, by any possible cause, become broken, not the least effect can be produced from the gearing or movement of the watch a quite important advantage, as is obvious to all conversant with watch making. In figs. 6 and 7 a watch-key is illustrated of such a construction that by no possibility can the watch movement be wound in the wrong direction, and if by accident or carelessness the key should be still turned after the watch movement is completely wound up, and thus over-winding break or snap the main-spring, when secured in the barrel in the ordinary manner, the key will relieve itself. P is the spindle of the key suitably formed at one end Q, to fit over the main spring axis of the watch movement, the other end passing loosely through the ring S, with a cross-arm,

:1, upon its upper end. Across one side of this ring S a spring, R, is secured at one end, which spring is of such, a form and so arranged as to allow the key-spindle to be turned in onedirection and thering to slip upon the spindle if the force exerted to turn the spindle is too great; the spring R in the one case lifting, letting the. arm a of the spindle by, and in the other case sliding laterally upon the ring, and thus also let the arm a pass by it, as is obvious, without further explanation, from the above, and by an inspection of figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Securing the outer end of the balance-spring of a watch to a stud formed with two spring-arms O 0 having set-screw D, when arranged and connected together substantially in the manner described and for the purpose specified; I

2. Forming each arm C C of brass and steel, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. Securing the outer end of the main-spring of a watch movement to and within the barrel by means of a supplementary spring coiled in the reverse direction, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

HENRY GANNEY.

Witnesses:

SAM. K. WELBURN, A. D. CUNNINGHAM. 

